Ryan Cole has been named executive director of Pikes Peak Country Attractions Association. He takes over for Michele Starling, who led the organization for 13 years. Cole said the organization is perfectly poised to jump full onto into social media networking and advertising, and make a more concerted effort to attract tourists from within the… Continue Reading Cole named director of Pikes Peak Country Attractions Association

City government went to the dogs — or rather the dog — Tuesday morning. Mayor Steve Bach gave a Spirit of the Springs award at his news conference to Swagger, the Old English sheepdog which beat out 2,720 competitors to win reserve best-in-show at Westminster. The pooch belongs to Colton and Heather Johnson, part of… Continue Reading City candidates show different strategies

Neumann Systems Group has laid off its vice president of marketing, along with “about 10″ other people, said Dave Neumann, founder and board president of the technology company. And he says it’s all Mayor Steve Bach’s fault, because his staff and one City Council member have created a toxic environment for business. The e-mail and… Continue Reading Neumann Systems Group lays off ‘about’ 11, blames mayor

A craft brewery slated to open near Garden of the Gods Road and Interstate 25 this spring aims to start big. Todd Baldwin is a 29-year-old former Army artilleryman who loves the military and craft brew. He’s bringing his passions together with Red Leg Brewing and just leased 4,900 square feet at 4630 Forge Road.… Continue Reading New brewery at GOG Road and I-25 will market to military

Some stories about the Manitou Incline are like big-fish-that-got-away tales. Someone knows a guy who knows a gal who climbed the Incline in less than 20 minutes, in the heat, with a pack and without breaking a sweat. No one can be sure whether the stories are true or just part of the competitive lore… Continue Reading CoPilot app swoops in on Incline hype

Silos: Silver. Red. Multi-colored. Often standing alone or in pairs. All across America. Perfect for a farm. Not so, when conducting marketing in your business or nonprofit. Here are some examples of what I mean: You give a presentation to tell people about your organization, event or issue, but you do not mention your own… Continue Reading Silo marketing – not a good idea for your business

Starting a new business is exciting! But an emotional rush into action can muddy your path and blind your vision. When you stop and get your bearings, there’s a clearer path with road signs to let you know if you’re getting where you want to go. Driving fast is fun, yet even more fun is… Continue Reading Startups: Turn hard work into hard cash

For months, we’ve been publishing stories in the Business Journal warning of possible consequences from the federal spending sequester for the Colorado Springs-area economy. Political leaders on both sides in Washington stayed upbeat as long as possible, saying the sequester was too damaging — and too indiscriminate — to become reality. Surely, even in the… Continue Reading Scary sequester ride begins